MILWAUKEE (March 27, 2023) – The weekend-long gamer’s paradise, Midwest Gaming Classic, is set to return to the Wisconsin Center from March 31 – April 2. Taking over all three floors of the downtown convention center, guests can play thousands of pinball, arcade, console, and tabletop games, enjoy live entertainment, and meet pop-culture personalities, all with the price of admission. Kids 9 and under get in for free.
This year, the event is expected to draw more than 20,000 attendees from all over the world, with many coming from Japan, South Korea, Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Spain. From its humble beginnings in 2001 with just 100 attendees in a Boy Scout office, the Midwest Gaming Classic has grown into one of the largest celebrations of retro and modern gaming in the country, with more than 200,000 square feet of gaming and nostalgia. The event is estimated to generate $2 million tourism dollars for the Milwaukee area, according to Visit Milwaukee.
“Our goal is to create a fun and welcoming environment where people of all skill levels can gather to enjoy their favorite games and discover new ones,” says co-founder Dan Loosen. “In addition to hardcore gamers, a common sight on the weekend is parents sharing their childhood favorites with their kids, such as Oregon Trail, pinball games, Pokémon cards, or NBA Jam.”
The weekend includes hundreds of free-play pinball, arcade, and console games, a playable gaming museum, game tournaments and esports competitions, tabletop gaming, tabletop role-playing games, trading card games, cosplay contests, live-action role-play opportunities, and celebrity and industry professional panels and meet & greets.
This year’s event is bigger and better than ever, with the vendor hall doubling in size to more than 100,000 square feet. Attendees can look forward to a 30th-anniversary celebration of Mortal Kombat, including martial arts training from the actors, panel discussions, and performances. Also, famous movie car replicas from Jurassic Park, Back to the Future, Wayne’s World and more, The World of Nintendo Exhibit, an Animaniacspanel, The Electronic Gaming Magazine Reunion, video game-themed bands, and a 26-foot inflatable gorilla, affectionately named the DANKEY KANG, will welcome visitors as they arrive.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
March 31-April 2
Mar 31, PREVIEW NIGHT from 6pm-12am, limited events opened, vendors closed – $45
Apr 1, FULL SHOW from 10am-8pm – $50
Apr 2, FAMILY DAY from 10am-5pm – $25
Multi-day passes ($60-175)
AT
The Wisconsin Center
400 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53203
